At Veterinary Medical Center of Caldwell, we take a unique approach to veterinary healthcare by focusing on preventative wellness and client education. A key aspect to preventative wellness is building our patients’ immunization to common, contagious diseases. This is done through the administration of pet vaccinations. We recommend adult dogs and cats visit our veterinary clinic at least once a year for a physical exam and to keep their vaccinations up to date. Your veterinarian will help you create a custom vaccination plan based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and disease risks.
We recommend certain vaccines for dogs and cats regardless of lifestyle because some viruses can get carried into the home, either by you or another pet. At VMC of Caldwell in Caldwell, NJ, we can educate you about the types of vaccines we offer and how to protect your pet against progressive small animal diseases.
Dog Vaccinations
DAPP
The DAPP dog vaccine provides protection against canine distemper, adenovirus, para-influenza and parvo. This immunization should be given to puppies at six to eight weeks old. To eliminate the possibility of maternal antibody competition, we recommend continuing the DAPP vaccination every three to four weeks until your pup has reached 16 weeks of age. We administer this dog vaccine one year after the last puppy shot is given and once every three years afterward.
Bordetella
Bordetella, also known as kennel cough, is a very common and contagious illness that affects the canine respiratory system. The bordetella dog vaccine is administered intranasally during the first puppy visit and every 6 months to a year after that.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis, also known as lepto, is a bacterial disease that can affect both humans and pets. It occurs all over the world and leads to liver and kidney damage as well as death if left untreated. Humans and pets can get this bacterial infection by coming into contact with infected wild animals (e.g., opossums, skunks, raccoons and rodents), lepto-infested water or infected urine. Since this disease can harm animals and humans, we encourage dogs to receive this immunization via two initial doses 2-4 weeks apart, and then on a yearly basis.
Rabies
It is by law that all domesticated dogs must be vaccinated against rabies when they receive their initial shots as puppies at or after 12 weeks of age. Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs and humans. Therefore, it is very important to protect your pet from this virus. An adult booster shot is given a year later and administered every three years afterward.
Lyme
Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease (transmittable from animals to humans) spread by deer ticks, which are prevalent in our region of the country. If your dog lives near wooded areas or thick brush, they could be more at risk for ticks and tick-borne diseases like Lyme. Clinical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, lethargy, lameness, and swelling of the limbs and joints. This condition is treatable here at our hospital, and it can be reduced or prevented from spreading with the help of the Lyme vaccine, which is given annually.
Cat Vaccinations
Rabies
Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including cats and humans. This being the case, it is very important to protect your pet from this virus. Kittens receive this cat vaccine one time after they reach 12 weeks of age. Following the initial vaccine, adult pets receive the Purevax® form of this cat vaccination yearly for the most advanced safety and protection.
FVRCP
FVRCP cat vaccine is our “feline distemper” vaccination that protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calici virus and panleukopenia. These diseases are highly contagious among cats and can have devastating effects on their respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Our feline patients should receive this cat shot when they are kittens, starting at six weeks of age. This cat vaccination should be given every three weeks until the kitten is 16 weeks old, as it will confidently ensure there is not any maternal antibody competition. Once the initial immunizations have been administered, we administer this cat vaccine one year after the last kitten shot is given and once every three years afterward.
FeLV
FeLV (i.e., feline leukemia virus) is a deadly viral disease that wreaks havoc on affected cats’ immune systems and can lead to an array of cancerous conditions including leukemia. Because symptoms can remain hidden for months or even years in affected cats, many owners don’t realize there is a problem until it is too late and other cats in the household have already been exposed to the disease.
Please discuss the necessity of this vaccination with your veterinarian.